1. Former Patriots offensive coordinator Billy O’Brien could end up dipping into the New England talent pool to help fill out his coaching staff in Houston. Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports is reporting that O’Brien is interested in hiring Patriots tight ends coach George Godsey to work with him in Houston. Godsey was initially hired by New England as an offensive assistant in 2011, and became tight ends coach after Brian Ferentz left the Patriots for Iowa in 2012. It would be interesting to see what might happen to Godsey if New England also let Josh McDaniels leave — McDaniels has reportedly been given permission to interview with the Browns for their vacant head coaching job. Godsey could move into an opening in New England if he does decide to stick around.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked Wednesday on his thoughts regarding the news that O’Brien was set to take over in Houston.

“Well, I love Billy O’Brien,” he said, “but right now really we’re on the playoffs and our situation. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on another coach or another team. I don’t even know what team we’re talking about here.”

2. There are no new updates regarding McDaniels’ candidacy with the Browns, but Tom Brady weighed in Wednesday on the possibility of losing McDaniels. The quarterback, who has worked with McDaniels in various capacities for several years, called him “one of my best buds,” and added that he was “glad [McDaniels is] my coach.” He added that he wasn’t surprised that McDaniels was getting recognition as a potential head coaching candidate.

“It’s a credit to those guys and what they’ve accomplished, and it’s a very flattering thing when other people are interested,” Brady said. “But they’ll make their decision based on whatever they make their decision based on, and I’ve still got to go out there and do my job, which is ultimately what I owe this team and what I signed up for and what I promised Mr. Kraft when I signed my contract, and what I commit to Belichick and all my teammates, that I’m going to try to do the best I can do. It doesn’t matter who’s coaching or who’s running routes or who [I’m] handing the ball off to or who’s blocking or who’s playing defense. I’ve got to go do my job, so that’s where my focus is.”

3. The Bucs have hired former Bears coach Lovie Smith to take over in Tampa. Smith is set to replace Greg Schiano, who was let go after two seasons with the Buccaneers and an 11-21 mark. (Schiano is rumored to be in line as a candidate for the Penn State job which was recently left open by O’Brien’s departure.) This won’t be the first Florida stop for Smith, who spent five seasons in Tampa working for Tony Dungy before leaving for the head coaching gig in Chicago. While with the Bears, he had an 81-63 mark in eight seasons, and led Chicago to an NFC Championship in 2006. The news was first reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.